Tuscumbia man charged in bank robbery and tax fraud

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Federal authorities say an Alabama man is charged with both robbing a Colbert County bank and participating in a tax fraud.

Officials announced Wednesday that 46-year-old Ricky Walter Denton of Tuscumbia has been indicted on federal charges in an armed robbery that occurred in 2009.

Denton also is accused of working with 55-year-old Joann Smith Choat of Tuscumbia to obtain almost $150,000 in false federal income tax refunds from 2007 through last year. Prosecutors say the alleged scheme involved taking other peoples' Social Security number and birthdates and using them to file false tax returns.

Denton is accused on robbery and weapons charges in the holdup at First Southern Bank in Colbert County. He and Choat are charged with filing false tax returns, conspiracy and fraud in the tax case.